Motion · Playing guide

Online Theremin-Style Instrument with Hand Tracking

Air Melody gives Motion a theremin-like lead surface without a physical instrument. One hand holds the chord bed while the melody hand raises or lowers through the selected scale. Choose free pitch when you want continuous pitch movement instead of scale steps.

One-finger lead

Point one finger to start a note, then raise or lower the melody hand to move through the selected scale. Use a small movement first and listen to the pitch change.

Musical by default

Major and minor pentatonic choices limit the melody to a small set of notes. Choose a scale that fits the chord bed before you begin a phrase.

Two-handed play

Hold a chord with one hand while the pointing hand carries the melody. Practise each role separately before putting them together.

Camera hand control

Start the camera, keep the full pointing hand visible, and use its height as the musical surface. Touch and keyboard controls offer another way to explore the instrument.

Shape the tone

Explore the sound settings alongside the melody. Chords mode gives the second hand filter, resonance, volume, ambience, and Air Dock actions.

How to begin

  1. Open Air Melody: Start Motion and switch the instrument mode from Chords to Air Melody.
  2. Choose a key: Select the root and scale before moving through the notes.
  3. Start a note: Enable the camera, point one finger, and keep the full hand in view.
  4. Glide through the scale: Raise or lower the melody hand while the other hand holds the chord bed.
  5. Release cleanly: Make a fist or press Stop when the phrase ends.

Tips for playing

  • Begin with a small raise or lower so the scale steps are easy to hear.
  • Keep the pointing hand inside the camera frame and use even light for steadier tracking.
  • Try headphones when exploring pitch movement and filter together.
  • Switch to free pitch after the scale-aware mode feels predictable; it gives you more continuous control and requires closer listening.

Online theremin questions

Is this a real theremin?
It is a browser instrument inspired by a theremin, using camera hand tracking rather than antennas. Air Melody can select notes through a scale or use a free-pitch mode.
How do I play the online theremin?
Choose Air Melody, enable the camera, point one finger, and gently raise or lower your hand. Make a fist or press Stop to release the lead.
Do I need a camera?
Live hand gestures require a camera and browser permission. Motion also has touch and keyboard controls if you want to explore without camera access.
Can I change the scale?
Yes. Choose the key and melody scale in Motion, including pentatonic options and a free-pitch mode for continuous movement.